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UNITED STATES PATENT @Erler-1...

JAMES R. RHEUBOTTOM, OF VEEDSPORI, NEW YORK.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,118, dated May 25, 1880.

Application filed April 8, 1880.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. RHEUBOT- TOM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weedsport, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Supporting Garments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of clasps which are designed for attachment to straps orcords and for use in supporting` hose, skirts of dresses, sleeves, and other articles in desired positions, its object being to facilitate the manipulation of the clasp for the engagement and disengagement thereof to and from the article to which it is applied.

Glasps of this class have heretofore been made with two spring-jaws formed by bending double a strip of sheet metal and surrounding the jaws with a clamping-band, or slitting them longitudinally and passing through the slots a loose rivet with heads at each end, the clampingband or the rivet requiring to be moved by the fingers for opening and closing the jaws when it is desired to clasp them upon or discharge them from a garment.

'The necessary operation of the clampingband or the loose rivet by the fingers is very difficult and disagreeable on account of the lack of purchase, and especially is this the case when the clasps are of small size, as they o are required to be in a large majority of the uses to which they are applied.

In overcoming the disadvantages of the forms of clasps my invention consists in a garmentsupporting clasp consisting of a pair of connected spring-jaws which are held normally open by their elasticity, and provided with a slide by which they may be closed, in combination with a lever pivoted at the connected ends of said jaws, and provided at one end with means of attachment to a strap or other article, whileits other end is connected by a suitable link with the slide or band for operating the same, as hereinafter particularly described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of two of my improved clasps attached tothe opposite ends of a strap. Fig. 2 is an edge view of a clasp closed. Figs. 3 and 4. are similar views of a clasp open.

(No model.)

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the operatin g-lever.

r The letters A Av indicate two springjaws, formed by doubling a strip of sheet metal in such manner that the jaws will stand normally at the desired distance apart. The tips of the said jaws are bent toward each other, as at a, and one or both of said tips may be serrated or toothed. Both ofthe jaws are slotted longitudinally, as shown at b, and through these slots passes loosely a pin, c, having a head, d, at one end, while its other end is riveted to the end of a tongue or pusher, c, the other end 'of which is jointed to the end bar, j', of a yoke or frame-lever, F, the cross-bar or fulcrum-bar f of which is inclosed by a tubular bearing,

end bar when the clasp is closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the yoke or frame-lever is turned ,with its end bar against the adjacent jaw A,

as shown in Fig. 2, the tongue or pusher c is forced toward the tips of the jaws, carrying the pin c through the slots, said pin being of such length that as it approaches the tips the 'jaws are drawn together between the head d and the end of the tongue c, and will thus clasp firmly any article placed between the tips.

When the yoke or frame-lever is turned at right angles tothe jaws, as shown in Fig. 3, or when the loop l1, is turned down upon the jaws, as in Fig. 4, the pin is drawn outward and the jaws are allowed to separate by their elasticity.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, instead of the headed pin for drawing the jaws together, they are surrounded by a sliding band, 7c, to which the tongue c is secured, and the operation of which is obvious.

l. A garmentsupporting clasp consisting of a pair of connected spring-jaws which are held IOO normally open by their elasticity and provided with a slide by which they may be closed, in combination with a lever pivoted at the connected ends of said jaws, and having1 at one 5 end suitable means for attachment to a strap or other article, and at its other end connected with'the clasp-slide, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the slotted springjaws A, the yoke or frame-lever F, fulerumed 1o at the connected ends of said j'aws7 the headed pin c, arranged through the slots in said jaws,

and the tongue or pusher e, connecting said pin and the frame-lever or yoke, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES R. RHEUBOTTOM.

Witnesses:

W. A. LAWRENCE, JOHN DALY. 

